Origin
Alamosa, CO
Morning in Alamosa on Saturday
Local time
11:36 AM
MDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Alamosa, CO to Longmont, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 7m
Distance
269.5 mi
434 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$41
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 54m
★
6 AM
5h 8m
8 AM
5h 35m
10 AM
5h 17m
12 PM
5h 14m
3 PM
5h 18m
5 PM
5h 33m
8 PM
5h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Alamosa, CO
RDNE Stock project
Longmont, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Alamosa, CO to Longmont, CO covers 269.5 miles and takes about 5h 7m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 25 Business, Santa Fe Avenue, Ronald Reagan Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 86.9 miles on I 25 Business. At current regular gas prices, budget about $40.61 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
134.8 miles from Alamosa, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 36m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 25 Business | 86.9 mi | 1h 30m |
| Santa Fe Avenue | 71.4 mi | 1h 27m |
| Ronald Reagan Highway | 70.1 mi | 1h 18m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 12.2 mi | 12m |
| North Valley Highway | 9.6 mi | 11m |
| Monument Valley Freeway | 8.5 mi | 9m |
| Highway 119 | 3.1 mi | 3m |
| East 3rd Avenue | 1.9 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
I 25 Business
— 86.9 mi, about 1h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alamosa, CO and Longmont, CO.
1
Start on Ross Avenue
67 ft
·
7 sec
·
Ross Avenue
2
Turn left onto Fourth Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Fourth Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto US 160; CO 17
521 ft
·
17 sec
·
Denver Avenue
4
Continue on US 160; CO 17
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Broadway Avenue
5
Continue on US 160
71 mi
·
1 hr 27 min
·
Santa Fe Avenue
Use the straight lane.
6
Turn left onto I 25 Business
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
Main Street
Use the left lane.
7
Continue on I 25 Business
210 ft
·
3 sec
·
Main Street
8
Continue on I 25 Business
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Walsen Avenue
9
Continue on I 25 Business
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
US Highway 85/87
10
Take the ramp onto I 25 Business
87 mi
·
1 hr 30 min
·
I 25 Business
Toward I 25 North: Pueblo
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Continue on I 25; US 24
8.5 mi
·
9 min
·
Monument Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 25
70 mi
·
1 hr 18 min
·
Ronald Reagan Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
North Valley Highway
Use the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25
5.3 mi
·
5 min
·
North Valley Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Continue on I 25
12 mi
·
12 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
Exit 240
Toward CO 119 West: Firestone Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork
290 ft
·
7 sec
Toward CO 119 West: Longmont
18
Turn left onto CO 119
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Highway 119
Use the left / straight lanes.
19
Continue on CO 119
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Ken Pratt Boulevard
20
Take the exit
226 ft
·
6 sec
21
Turn right onto East 3rd Avenue
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
East 3rd Avenue
Use the right lane.
22
Turn right onto Kimbark Street
0.2 mi
·
55 sec
·
Kimbark Street
23
Turn left
186 ft
·
15 sec
24
Turn right
109 ft
·
7 sec
25
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 134.8 miles from Alamosa, CO, or about 2h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.9 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 59 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 134.8 miles or 2h 36m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Longmont, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Alamosa, CO so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Alamosa, CO
This is one driving day of about 269.5 miles and 5h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Alamosa, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 25 Business for about 86.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
135 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 59 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 134.8 miles from Alamosa, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 25 Business if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 86.9 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 72.2 and 262.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
72.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 29m in
|
I 25 Business / Main Street
Turn left onto I 25 Business / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
240.5 mi into trip
|
~4h 32m in
|
I 25 / North Valley Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25 / North Valley Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
6
244.8 mi into trip
|
~4h 38m in
|
I 25 / North Valley Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25 / North Valley Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
262.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 56m in
Take the exit toward CO 119 West: Firestone Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 240
Toward CO 119 West: Firestone Boulevard
6
262.5 mi into trip
|
~4h 56m in
Keep slight left at fork toward CO 119 West: Longmont
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward CO 119 West: Longmont
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.61 one way
$81.21 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
94 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $42.99 | $85.99 |
| premium | $4.39 | $46.62 | $93.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $59.50 | $119.00 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 94.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 80.9 | 0 | $28.30 | $12.94 |
| Efficient EV | 67.4 | 0 | $23.58 | $10.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 107.8 | 1 | $37.73 | $17.25 |
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Longmont, CO
Morning in Longmont on Saturday
Local time
11:36 AM
MDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
10 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 7m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
269.5 mi in 5h 7m — 37% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: I 25 Business.
37% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 86.9 mi on I 25 Business.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 72.2 miles in near I 25 Business / Main Street.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 269.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 72.2 miles (I 25 Business / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 240.5 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 244.8 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mountain driving with significant elevation changes
8,460 ft
4,873 ft
Total Climb
2,851 ft
Total Descent
5,414 ft
Highest Point
8,460 ft
~38.5 mi in
Elevation Range
3,587 ft
Notable High Points
8,460 ft at ~38.5 miles
+728 ft prominence
6,807 ft at ~192.5 miles
+292 ft prominence
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 7m. Total distance: 269.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 86.9 miles on I 25 Business. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Longmont, CO before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 72.2 miles (I 25 Business / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 240.5 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 244.8 miles (I 25 / North Valley Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Longmont, CO before the return drive.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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